When German Comfort Food Meets Malta, a Beautiful Cookbook is Born

Yes, Eat in My Kitchen is a cookbook based on the eponymous blog, but community members who reviewed the 2017 Piglet Community Pick said not to write it off as just another blogger's cookbook. Just because you can get a blogger's recipes online doesn't mean their cookbook doesn't have more to add.

"Sometimes blogger cookbooks get a bad rap," our community member Jenny Hartin said—"don't judge a cookbook by its category, though: You will sometimes miss out on greatness."

Berlin-based Meike Peters started Eat in My Kitchen the blog with the goal of posting a new recipe every day as a sort of journal of what she ate in her kitchen: mostly food inspired by German comfort food; from her home-away-from-home, Malta; and from the farmers market. "[Peters's] goal to do a recipe a day for a year was mind-blowing," Janie Hewson said. "Then the food was intriguing and the photography was evocative and I could not stop following her blog."

So while her blog brought many to her cookbook, there's more to why Eat in My Kitchen was picked by our community as one of their favorite books of the year. Hear why from them here:

"Beautiful." —Sophie

"Beautiful, delicious-looking recipes." —Janie Hewson

"Beautifully photographed and mouth watering food photographed!" —Jenny Pace

"It's colorful and full of mouth-watering photos." —Alexandra Aquilina

"What a beautifully designed cookbook with fantastic images that accompany these great recipes." —Giles Ryder

"When I opened Eat in my Kitchen, I thought it was a lovely book. When I delved into it further, I realized it was far more than lovely. The author conveys a love of food, her heritage and a generosity of spirit with her vibrant photographs and tempting recipes." —Jenny Hartin

It's clear the photos are a vital part of the book. Reviewers found that they added beauty, inspired cooking, inspired traveling, inspired reading through the book, inspired spending more time in the kitchen with fresh produce, and made them want to be friends with the author!

"An exciting and stunning combination of Mediterranean flavors with American and German cuisine." —Alexandra Aquilina

"Meike Peters's book is beautiful to look at thanks to her colorful photography, but most importantly, her recipes are a true inspiration, offering culinary combinations that make you wonder why you never thought of them earlier." —Giles Ryder

"A not intimidating cookbook that can, simply, elevate one's personal home cooking." —Sophie

"Eat in My Kitchen reflects the spirit of one who enjoys food, family, and friends, with approachable recipes that deliver flavor and comfort." —Jenny Hartin

Vanessa Macdonald said "each recipe has an ingredient that takes the dish out of the ordinary, whether because of taste, texture, or color." That's likely because of Peters's melding of German comfort food, Mediterranean techniques, and produce, Giles Ryder mentioned.

"Everyone must try the Wild Mushroom Spaghetti with Orange Butter and Crispy Sage because it is incredibly delicious, minimal work, and truly is impressive. I've only made it three times since I've received the book." —Jenny Hartin

"The wild mushroom, bacon, and Gruyère sandwich is the ultimate, luxe grilled cheese for a comforting winter brunch, lunch, or dinner." —Laura Grahame

"The beer-roasted pork with sweet potatoes and parsnips—couldn't believe how great it tastes!" —Jenny Pace

A few readers mentioned the salads: Giles Ryder thinks Peters "often adds one or two ingredients that make a simple salad special." For instance, take radicchio, peach, and roasted shallot salad with blue cheese: "It's the cover photo of the book for good reason! It's an unusual salad, but the flavors of each element compliment each other so perfectly that you really enjoy each bite!" says Alexandra Aquilina.

Sophie said it reminded her of Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi because of the Mediterranean influence. Janie Hewson mentioned Maureen Abood's Rose Water and Orange Blossoms—"another delicious trip through arresting photographs, amazing tastes, and a captivating story." And the book reminds Jenny Hartin of Deb Perelman's Smitten Kitchen Cookbook or Amy Thielen's The New Midwestern Table because they're "homey, well-presented, flavorful, and the recipes all work."

2017's roster of Piglet Community Picks were chosen by an open call to our community; the reviews you see here are from some of the folks who voted these books into the tournament. To see other Piglet Community Picks reviews, head here.

Eat in My Kitchen is available wherever books are sold.